Evolution / Genetics

5,000 year old 'megalithic burial' found in southern India

In a significant discovery, historians and archeologists have found what they describe as the only megalithic site in India, where a depiction of star constellation has been identified. The site was discovered in Mudumal village in Telangana and is estimated to date back to 3000 BC.

Stones at the megalithic site in Mudumal village in Mahbubnagar district [Credit: EPS]

No other site in India has so many menhirs concentrated at one place, claim the historians and archaeologists who also believe that this is “undoubtedly the earliest astronomical observatory found in India or even south Asia”.

A cup-mark depiction of Ursa Major was noticed on a squarish stone planted vertically. About 30 cup-marks were arranged in a pattern similar to the appearance of Ursa Major in the sky. Not only the prominent seven stars, but also the peripheral groups of stars are depicted on the menhirs.

Mudumal contains about 80 big menhirs as tall as 12 to 14 feet, and about 2000 alignment stones of about 1-2 feet high. These menhirs, alignments and stone circles are spread out in about 80 acres of land. The central portion contains the maximum concentration of Menhirs, explains Dr. K Pulla Rao, who has been researching the site for over 11 years. A team of archaeologists from Korea will be visiting the site in December, according to the officials of the Telangana Archaeology Department.

State archaeology director Visalakshi inspected the site on Saturday and directed the officials to fence the area that has not been protected so far.